Chapter Thirty-Six: A Deal with Dugu Bo

"That's right!" Xiao Yu nodded calmly.

Hearing Xiao Yu's admission, Dugu Bo's eyes glinted with cold light, and his tone carried a sinister edge. "Boy, how did you learn about this?"

"Who's there?"

Ye Renxin, after all, was a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse. Though his combat ability was lacking, his spiritual sense was quite sharp. Within a minute of Dugu Bo's arrival, he sensed his presence and hurried over, accompanied by an elder of foreign blood at the Soul Saint level.

As for Ye Wentai, he had sensed the intruder's soul power was extremely high; if a conflict broke out, it would be little more than sending lambs to the slaughter. So he refrained from notifying him or any other clansmen.

"Gasp—the Poison Douluo!"

Only when Ye Renxin drew closer did he recognize who had come, involuntarily sucking in a cold breath. He hastily put on a smile and asked, "Your Excellency Poison Douluo, what brings you to our Nine Heart Begonia clan?"

Ye Renxin was genuinely terrified of Dugu Bo, more so than of any other Title Douluo. The reason was simple: Dugu Bo's ability to cleanse was terrifyingly absolute. Other Title Douluo might leave a few survivors during an assault, but if Dugu Bo unleashed his deadly poison, not a single member of the Nine Heart Begonia clan would survive the night.

"Rest assured, Clan Leader Ye. I'm not here for you, nor to trouble your clan. My target is only that boy!" Dugu Bo, wearing his habitual expressionless face, pointed at Xiao Yu and said, "Boy, with me here, Clan Leader Ye cannot protect you. Answer my question honestly!"

Xiao Yu's expression did not change. He showed no sign of fear toward Dugu Bo. "Sir Dugu, isn't the solution to your problem more important than your doubts?"

"You can solve—" Dugu Bo glanced at Ye Renxin, then amended his words, "You can resolve the issue that has been tormenting me?"

"Of course!" Xiao Yu replied with a faint smile. "But Sir Dugu, everything comes with a price. What reward can you offer me?"

How dare you speak to a Title Douluo like that!

Ye Renxin nearly fainted on the spot. In all his years, he had never seen anyone ask a Title Douluo for compensation.

"Hahaha!" Dugu Bo threw his head back and laughed loudly, stopping only after a long moment. He looked at Xiao Yu with murderous intent in his eyes. "Boy, you have quite the nerve. Who gave you the courage to extort a Title Douluo? Do you believe I have ten thousand ways to make you talk? I've spent decades mastering poison—there's no shortage of toxins to make you wish for death but be unable to die!"

"Sir Dugu, it seems you don't wish to negotiate calmly. Then I must help you regain your composure," Xiao Yu said, his voice still tranquil. "Aiolia, Milo, help him calm down."

"Yes!"

"Understood, Young Master!"

Two sharp voices sounded in succession, and two figures appeared beside Xiao Yu. Both were dressed similarly, clad in golden armor. One had bronzed skin and short brown hair, his aura fierce, like a golden lion baring its polished fangs. The other was fair-skinned with a cascade of blue hair, his eyes bright with a penetrating gaze that seemed to see through everything.

What shocked everyone even more was the nine soul rings rising from their bodies: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.

Dugu Bo's expression changed dramatically; his pupils contracted violently as he stared in disbelief at the two red soul rings.

He, as a Title Douluo, knew exactly what a red soul ring signified. It was the supreme existence among all soul rings—the dream of every soul master, the coveted hundred-thousand-year soul ring!

Ye Renxin was stunned for a long moment before he recovered, delight filling his gaze as he looked at Xiao Yu.

No wonder he'd wondered how those teenagers had traveled thousands of miles to Heaven Dou City without any elders accompanying them. Turns out it wasn't that there were no guardians—their cultivation was simply so high he couldn't detect them.

At that moment, Ye Renxin no longer hesitated. A thirteen-year-old Soul Sect, inheritor of soul tools that could remedy their Nine Heart Begonia's lack of offensive power, and two Title Douluo escorts, both with the ninth soul ring at the hundred-thousand-year level—such a background meant marrying his granddaughter to Xiao Yu was an honor for their clan. As for the Heaven Dou royal family, they could stay away as far as possible!

The soul power of two ninety-fifth level Title Douluo surged forth, and in an instant, the overwhelming pressure immobilized Dugu Bo.

"Sir Dugu, can we speak calmly now?" Xiao Yu gazed at the now pale-faced Dugu Bo and spoke indifferently.

"Who are you people?" Dugu Bo's voice trembled. "I've never had any enmity with you. Are you from the Spirit Hall? What do you want?"

"Rest assured, Sir Dugu, we are not from Spirit Hall," Xiao Yu shook his head. "As for my purpose, I believe I made it clear from the start—I wish to make a deal with you."

"What sort of deal?" Dugu Bo asked immediately. Having finally cultivated to the level of Title Douluo, he was not about to die so easily. Moreover, he had a granddaughter to protect. He had made countless enemies over the years; if he lost his protection, his granddaughter, merely at the Soul Sovereign level, would be utterly defenseless. He dared not imagine what would happen to her.

"I can solve your troubles, Sir Dugu, and your granddaughter's as well. In exchange, I have two conditions." Xiao Yu raised a finger. "First, I want the Eyes of Ice and Fire."

"The Eyes of Ice and Fire?" Dugu Bo was puzzled. "What's that?"

Xiao Yu explained, "It's the place where you reside—a pool whose waters are half boiling as magma, half cold as the northern ice fields."

So that's called the Eyes of Ice and Fire!

Dugu Bo suddenly understood. So this boy had set his sights on his territory!

That pool was a treasure he discovered over a decade ago. Its alternating cold and heat suppressed the toxins in his body, so he settled there. Rare herbs grew abundantly around the pool, but fearing their unknown effects, he dared not consume them.

"You went to so much trouble to use Yan Yan to lure me here, all for that pool. It seems it's very important to you!" Dugu Bo was annoyed; this boy had been scheming against him from the very beginning.

"But the Eyes of Ice and Fire are not my only aim," Xiao Yu smiled, raising a second finger. "My second condition is that you join my sect."